Breaking Bat: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Magic Market Mysteries Book 6) by Erin Johnson

Author:Erin Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2020-06-02T04:00:00+00:00

15

STRAWBERRIES

After we finished at the diner, I led Daisy and Peter to my neighborhood in the Darkmoon Night Market district. I knew Joe’s parents’ restaurant and had eaten there a handful of times.

A bell tinkled as I pushed the door open to the tiny space. A few dark-haired men and women, who looked like they were probably family members, sat at a few of the tables, ledgers in front of them. One woman rocked a crying baby. I nodded my hellos, but they all just stared as Peter and Daisy entered behind me.

Though the place was tiny and dingy, the rich, meaty aromas smelled delicious. Despite having just eaten, my mouth watered, and I itched to get a few servings of that pork adobo behind the glass of the front counter. Probably best not to eat from a place that might have poisoned our victim. I swallowed and eyed the stew, oil bubbles coating the surface. It looked so good, though.

Joe’s parents stood behind the counter, his dad holding the ladle, ready to dish up food, his mom behind the till. They sighed as they recognized us, then turned in unison toward the swinging doors that no doubt led to the kitchen and cried, “Joe!”

Peter and I exchanged looks, and a moment later Joe strutted out, wiping his hands on his apron. “What?”

His mom pointed at us, and he rolled his eyes when he took us in. “Whatever it is, can we go do this outside?” He raised his dark brows. “Cops are bad for business.”

A few moments later, we all crowded together in the tiny alleyway out back. A twisted metal fire escape dangled overhead, rattling slightly in the strong winds, and rats scurried in the debris. I crinkled my nose—unlike the delectable smells inside the restaurant, out back it reeked of trash and old fish.

Joe folded his arms. “What’s this about?”

Peter held up Letty’s diary. “You tell us. Seems you tried to win Letty back, she rejected you, and then you threatened her.”

I scooted closer to Peter as rain fell around us—he sheltered us both, plus Daisy, with a bubble spell.

Joe shook his head and sighed. “This is total detritus, man. I didn’t threaten Letty, I was warning her.” He jabbed a finger at us. “I should’ve been more specific, that I was worried that bottom feeder Chaz or his family would hurt her, but at the time, I was just angry that she couldn’t see that for herself.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would you think that the Harringtons would harm her?”

He took a sharp breath, then blew it out in a huff. His brows pinched together and he looked genuinely pained. “The night before the wedding, I found this outside the restaurant door.” He drew his wand, and in a flash, a small basket of fresh strawberries and a note hovered in front of Peter and me.

Joe paced as Peter and I exchanged wide-eyed looks. The strawberries smelled fragrant, though they were small and still on the vine, as though they’d been picked wild.

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